A total of 83 families in Kushtia whose members were killed or injured in road crashes have received financial assistance from the government.

A total of Tk 3.17 crore was distributed from the Trust Fund of the Board of Trustees for the treatment of road crash victims and support for the families of those killed.

The cheques were handed over at a programme jointly organised by the Kushtia District Administration and BRTA Kushtia Circle at the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner’s office at 12:30pm on Sunday.

Of the amount, Tk 2.75 crore was given to the families of 55 people killed in road crashes, with each family receiving Tk 5 lakh. Another Tk 42 lakh was provided for the treatment of 28 injured people.

The financial assistance was provided under the government policy to people who suffered serious or minor injuries in road crashes and to the families of those killed.

The programme was presided over by Ahmed Mahbub-ul-Islam, Deputy Director (Deputy Secretary) of Kushtia Local Government, and moderated by Md Jahangir Alam, Additional District Magistrate of Kushtia.

Mosammat Momtaz Begum, Director (Operations) and Joint Secretary of BRTA Headquarters in Dhaka, attended the programme as the chief guest.

Kushtia Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Ops) Faisal Mahmud, Khulna Divisional BRTA Deputy Director (Engineer) Tanvir Ahmed, District Bus Owners Association General Secretary Md Rafiqul Islam and District Motor Workers Union President Mahbub Alam were present as special guests.

The speakers stressed the need for drivers and pedestrians to follow traffic rules and remain alert to prevent road crashes.

They said while the government’s financial assistance cannot compensate for the loss of lives, it can help ease the suffering of affected and bereaved families.